Chiemgau impact hypothesis

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Chiemgau impact hypothesis is an obsolete scientific theory that claimed the Tüttensee lake in southern Bavaria, Germany to be the result of an Holocene meteorite impact. This claim has been refuted by geological research and the finding of a soil horizon of undisturbed peat and sedimentation since the end of the last glaciation period.[1][2] The lake is in fact one of many kettles under the foothills of the Bavarian alps.[3]

The claims of an impact crater had been raised by a team of hobby-archaeologists, calling themselves the CIRT (Chiemgau impact research team),[4] and have resulted in some media reports in Germany and discussions in the local tourism industry, but are not accepted beyond the CIRT team today.

References

  1. Bavarian State Agency for the Environment: Neue Altersdaten: Kein "Kelten-Komet" im Chiemgau, Press release August 24, 2010 (german)
  2. Ernst Kroemer: Sedimententnahme und Datierungen in der Verlandungszone des Tüttensees, Landesamt für Umwelt, August 2010 (german)
  3. G. Doppler, E. Geiss: Der Tüttensee im Chiemgau – Toteiskessel statt Impaktkrater, Bavarian State Agency of Geology, June 2005
  4. The Chiemgau Impact - the claims by the Chiemgau impact research team